The Disney College Program Experience

A continuation of my last post…

After you choose what housing complex, you go directly to another set of round table where a disney cast member greets you. This cast member is basically checking you out to make sure you meet the requirements of “the disney look.” At our table someone was told they had to remove their colored nail polish, another girl she had to get her barely grown our highlights redone and a guy that he must take his necklace off for traditions & work. Luckily, I got through this process all clear and was ready to head to the background check. 

After the round tables you are given a time to board a bus where they take you to a cast services building. There, you go through background checks. They take your finger print, photo and give you your ID Card. That’s about all you do and then you are free for the day.

The move in process is pretty simple. You go to your apartment, pick a bed and basically claim it. There are no specific assignments. Make sure to get there early if you think you want a specific room/roommate or else others will have taken your spot. You have a two day guest pass for parking and you can get a semester parking pass as long as you have your registration, insurance and drivers license. 

Depending on when you check in, traditions will either be the day after background checks or a couple days later. You don’t have your Disney ID to get into the parks yet so basically you have one or two days to sit around and do nothing… 

Once your day for traditions comes around, you must get dressed in business attire and board a bus to Disney University. Our bus picked us up at 7:15 so be prepared to wake up bright and early! I met a lot of people at traditions, many who are still my good friends right now! So be ready to socialize and sit through hours of Cast members telling you “Safe D Begins with ME!” At traditions they separate you into different groups. Once you get to the room you will sit at a round table. These people are your group for the day and you stick together to complete exercises and activities. You also take a mini tour of the Magic Kingdom… I know so exciting. You get to see the underground at Magic Kingdom which is pretty neat. They point out specific safety features in the park again emphasizing SafeD Begins with me. The most exciting part of the day has got to be getting your name tag! Mickey Mouse comes in and gives them to you! First character sighting of the trip :)